[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 62 (Wednesday, May 18, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 18, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 IN MEMORY OF ANTHONY R. STEFANIK, JR.

                                 ______


                          HON. JOHN P. MURTHA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 18, 1994

  Mr. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, I had a chance a few weeks ago to visit with 
the family of Anthony Stefanik, Jr., a 31-year-old Air Force captain 
who was one of seven crewmen to die when their plane crashed during a 
routine surveillance mission near Somalia.
  Anthony was on his second tour of duty in Africa, and had served 
previously with his brother, Ron, during Desert Storm.
  After Operation Desert Storm, he wrote some notes about his 
experience, and concluded with:

       ``I realized the best thing about being in the military now 
     is we are young, get to fly missions all around the world, 
     meet good friends in unexpected places, and most importantly, 
     we now have one thing in common: we risked our lives for our 
     country in the performance of our duties. I also realized 
     that the enemy never had a chance. They had no idea of the 
     talent, training, and professionalism they encountered.''

  Anthony symbolized all those qualities, and America is a better 
country today because of the strength of Anthony and his family.
  Besides my own comments, I'd like to also enclose this statement made 
by Tony's friend, Eric Swank.

                        Anthony R. Stefanik, Jr.

 ``Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for 
                       his friends.'' John 15:13

       Captain Anthony R. Stefanik, Jr. was born on 1 October 1962 
     to Anthony and Donna Stefanik in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He 
     graduated from Johnstown High School in 1980. In 1984, he 
     graduated cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh at 
     Johnstown earning a B.A. in Accounting. During his high 
     school days, he was active in baseball and karate. He loved 
     to lift weights and it showed.
       Tony worked for the accounting firm Barnes and Saly until 
     feeling the calling of service in October 1985. After 
     graduating from Officer Training School in January 1986, he 
     went to Mather AFB to earn his Navigator wings. From there, 
     he went to Castle AFB for B-52 training. His first 
     operational assignment was in B-52Gs on Guam. He arrived 
     there in 1987.
       He married his wife Catherine in 1988. The two of them went 
     to Carswell AFB in 1990. While there, they were blessed with 
     a son, Anthony III. Tony came to Hurlburt Field and the AC-
     130H in June 1992 as a Fire Control Officer.
       Tony flew on the last B-52 sortie of Operation Desert 
     Storm. He wrote a short story about his experience. After the 
     bomb run he writes: ``As we egressed the area, the radios 
     came alive with the sounds of search and rescue efforts for a 
     downed aircrew.'' How ironic that just a few years later, the 
     rescue radios would be crackling about him.
       A strong man both physically and emotionally, his wife, 
     son, mother, father, brother Ronald, sister Teri, and all who 
     know him will miss him greatly.--Eric Swank, Tony's friend.

                          ____________________